Business Development Specialist (Litigation)

New York, NY

Role Summary

The Business Development Specialist will support the Senior Business Development Manager for the firm’s global Litigation Group in helping to drive business development and marketing initiatives for the litigation practice.  Working closely with the Senior Business Development Manager, the role will involve partnering with and supporting practice group leadership, individual partners and the firm’s global Business Development, Marketing & Communications team, to develop and advance strategic business development planning and related initiatives, support pitches for new business, and enhance the external market profile of the firm’s litigation practice and partners globally.  The Litigation Group’s Business Development Specialist will also collaborate closely with other business development professionals at the firm on cross-selling efforts and other firm wide revenue generation initiatives.

Firm’s Litigation Group, with over 130 lawyers globally, is highly regarded in the market.  Our attorneys have deep experience in a wide range of litigation, investigation and compliance matters, with a focus on securities, criminal and enforcement, antitrust, M&A, FCPA, intellectual property and other complex commercial disputes.

A successful Business Development Specialist will be a self-starter and proactive in identifying new business development opportunities, knowledgeable about the legal industry and litigation/investigation practices in particular, and able to execute efficiently to achieve effective business development results.  The Business Development Specialist must also be comfortable interfacing with partners, business development colleagues and other business services professionals at all levels. Strong organization skills, a willingness to “roll up the sleeves”, and exceptional attention to detail and the ability to produce professional work product are also important attributes for the Business Development Specialist role. 

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Senior Business Development Manager in helping with the development and implementation of the business plans and targeted business development initiatives of the practice group and its partners.
• Draft and coordinate custom pitches, client presentations and responses to RFPs, always tailored to the client’s business and preferences.
• In connection with RFPs, analyze requirements, participate in the development of a clear and focused strategy, draft comprehensive responses, and collaborate with partners and business development team members within the Litigation Group and across practice groups and offices as appropriate.
• Conduct and summarize research on new and prospective clients, competitive intelligence and market considerations, utilizing litigation-related research tools such as Westlaw/Lexis and Lex Machina, in preparation for client meetings, pitches/RFPs and other business development initiatives.
• Prepare submissions for legal directories and research guides (e.g., Benchmark Litigation, Chambers, Global Investigations Review, Legal 500, other practice specific directories), including the organization, drafting and editing of submissions, coordination of researcher interviews, and tracking of rankings and accolades.
• Develop, draft, organize and maintain practice group marketing collateral and experience content, including practice area profiles, brochures, matter lists, website and intranet content.
• Maintain and/or build litigation specific contact lists in firm wide CRM system (InterAction).
• Identify, plan and provide logistical support for all internal and external marketing events, speaking engagements and conferences.
• Coordinate publication of the firm’s Need-to-Know Litigation Weekly, a newsletter that highlights notable developments in the firm’s core litigation and investigations practice areas.
• Ensure that all marketing collateral (e.g., pitches, brochures, client presentations, web content, etc.) are presented in a consistent format of the highest professional quality, and, where relevant, apply design techniques to improve their readability and impact.
• Assist in the design and execution of thought leadership, client events and training programs to enhance the business development efforts of the litigation practice.
• Other projects and duties, as assigned. 

Knowledge, Skills & Attributes

• Credible understanding of business and legal landscape, with knowledge of law firm litigation and investigations practice a plus.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail, excellent organizational skills and prioritizes work effectively.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and demonstrable ability to establish alignment between the expectations and strategies of different stakeholders.
• Ability to identify and implement solutions to business and people issues.
• Strong and creative problem-solving skills; superior analytical skills.
• Superior ability to prioritize and manage multiple, concurrent projects.
• Confident, flexible and resilient team player.
• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Adapts style to build relationships across all levels.
• Works effectively under the pressure of deadlines with little supervision. 

Education & Experience

• Minimum of 4 years of frontline work experience in business development and marketing, preferably in an international law firm or professional services environment.
• Equivalent of 4 year college degree required.
• Relevant graduate degree a plus.
• Experience with directory submissions, as well preparing pitches, presentations and other marketing materials.
• Advanced knowledge of MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, InterAction; familiarity in working with any desktop publishing software would be a plus.
• Strong design skills, with proven ability to develop and prepare professional and polished PowerPoint presentations.